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win2k installation

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by anastasio

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is there a way to move win2k professional from drive d: to c: after it has been installed without having to reinstall the os and applications?

i think this was just a careless mistake, but it happened. during the installation, i partitioned c: and d: and formatted the hard drive to install win2k professional. somehow, the operating system was installed on d: rather than c:

13 replies

by joseph moore

No, there really isn't.
There are hard-coded pathing in the Registry, which will point to D:\WINNT\...
If you moved the WINNT folder (and Program Files, and Documents & Settings) to the C: drive, then the pathing in the Registry will blow up.
Youcould try searching through the entire Registry and change each instance from D: to C:, but it will be quicker to just reinstall.

Plus, you are gonna run into open file problems (files that are being used by the OS) that you will not be able to move onto the C: partition. You would have to boot to a floppy (with NTFS drivers) to be able to move all of the files.

Basically, it isn't worth the trouble. Just reinstall.

Sorry for the not good news.

by shmaltz

Basicly answer 1 is wrong. You could change it although I don't know how. Since the registry uses %windir% instead of C:\WINNT it will work.

by jasonschambers

It is possible to trnasfer your OS from D to C, but you are actually going to have to use partition magic to accomplish this. I can send you a copy if you want. With partition magic you can reassign drive letters and than redistribute space. So you will be able to change the location of your OS and still manage the size of your partitions. This software will automaticly update your registery so you will not have to do a thing. I would suggest that you backup your data because I have heard a story or two about people crashing there system while using partition magic. Good luck!

by wmjd

I have had the same problem and there is no way to do what your asking..
I have used power quest drive image and still no luck becuase it the os thinks its on d:\ in the registry

sorry you also need to wipe out the drive so when you reinstall itthinks its new... plus dont partition the d:\ drive till after you get the os on the c:\ drive the use disk mgr

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